Immunology

The main scientific directions of the department are the study of the peculiarities of the state of the immune system of pregnancy, as well as in various forms of obstetric and gynecological pathology. Assessment of immune factors in various immunodeficiency conditions and recurrent infections. Development and appointment of immunocorrective therapy methods for various forms of obstetric and gynecological pathology, immunodeficiency conditions. The study of angiogenesis and the effect of cells of the immune system on this process. Studying the interaction of trophoblast cells and immune system cells. The study of vesicular microparticles of cellular origin as new subjects of intercellular signaling. The study of the role of macrophages and natural killers in the development of the placenta.

A scientific unit in order to create a single interdepartmental scientific-methodological and experimental-clinical center of the University for conducting comprehensive work on the most pressing medical and biological problems.

Main areas of scientific activity: Analysis of long-term B-cell immunological memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection; Analysis of neutralizing antibodies after vaccination/SARS-CoV-2 infection; Antigenic cartography of SARS-CoV-2 variants; Reprogramming of memory B cells in order to create producers of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies; Creation of a seedless systems for in vitro stimulation of B lymphocytes using multimerized proteins containing the CD40L receptor domain; Transduction of human B lymphocytes using adenoassociated viruses of various serotypes; Study of the features of the B-cell response to the major allergen of birch pollen Bet v 1; Study of the relationship of allergic sensitization with serum IgE levels; Study of human leukocyte differentiation antigens, in particular, the pathways of phosphorylation of CD45 associated protein (CD45-AP) and its role in the activation of human lymphocytes

The laboratory focussed at basic problems of glycobiology and application of glyco-molecules in medicine. The main directions comprise synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates, self-assembling peptides, carbohydrate-protein interactions, innate immunity to carbohydrates, study of cell surface lectins, influenza virus.

Our research spans several advanced fields in genomics, immunotherapy, and bioinformatics. Here’s a clearer breakdown of our work: Hereditary Corneal Pathologies (Corneal Dystrophy, Keratoconus) Corneal dystrophies and keratoconus are genetic disorders that affect the cornea, often leading to progressive vision impairment. These conditions are typically inherited, with mutations in specific genes playing a key role in their development. For example, expansion in the TCF4 gene is linked to corneal dystrophy, while genes like VSX1, FOXO1 and COL5A1 have been associated with keratoconus. Advances in sequencing technologies, such as whole-exome sequencing (WES) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have been instrumental in identifying new genetic variants involved in these diseases. Antitumor Immunotherapy Our work on antitumor immunotherapy focuses on using T cells to target cancer cells—an area showing great promise in cancer treatment. Techniques like CAR-T cell therapy or adoptive T cell transfer involve modifying a patient’s T cells to enhance their ability to identify and destroy tumor cells. The success of these therapies depends on a deep understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the mechanisms tumors use to evade immune detection, which can be explored through genomic analysis of both tumors and immune cells. Microsatellite Repeat Expansions in Schizophrenia Microsatellite repeat expansions are genetic variations where short DNA sequences are repeated multiple times. These expansions have been implicated in various neurological disorders, including schizophrenia. Emerging evidence suggests that certain repeat expansions may contribute to schizophrenia by disrupting gene function or altering gene expression. Detecting these expansions requires advanced sequencing techniques like whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and long-read sequencing technologies such as Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), which can resolve repetitive regions that are challenging for traditional short-read sequencing methods. Bioinformatic Data Analysis Developing new bioinformatics approaches is essential for managing the vast amount of data generated by modern sequencing technologies. This includes creating algorithms for detecting genetic variants, structural variations, and functional annotations of genomic data. Machine learning is increasingly being applied to improve the accuracy of these analyses, particularly in complex regions like those containing microsatellite repeats or structural variants. HLA Analysis in Macaques Using Nanopore Sequencing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing is crucial for understanding immune responses, especially in transplant biology and disease susceptibility studies. Macaques are important models for human disease research due to the similarities between their MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) regions and those of humans. However, macaques also exhibit unique differences that make them valuable for studying immune system diversity. Nanopore sequencing provides a powerful tool for HLA typing because it generates long reads that can span entire genes or complex regions like the MHC. This technology has proven effective for resolving complex MHC regions in macaques, offering insights into immune system diversity.

The priority scientific direction is the study of molecular genetic mechanisms of regulation of the processes of activation, proliferation and differentiation of cells of the immune system in normal conditions and in immunopathological conditions and the development of new methods of immunocorrection based on cellular biotechnologies and genetic engineering products.